Noble Consort Yi suddenly spoke up, cutting off Consort Hui’s words in a manner that struck everyone as outright rude.
Consort Hui’s expression darkened immediately. Suppressing her anger, she forced a strained smile. "Taking a concubine is Yinti’s family matter. It’s hardly your place to interfere."
As for summoning the Imperial Physicians, the Empress Dowager had already suggested it, but Lady Irgen Gioro had declined. Noble Consort Yi’s insistence was a blatant overstep, a disregard for the Empress Dowager’s authority.
"May Noble Consort Yi consider this carefully," Consort Hui said, barely concealing her displeasure as she emphasized her words. "Yunxin is my daughter-in-law. Naturally, I care for her well-being. There’s no need for Your Grace to trouble yourself."
The insinuation in her words was unmistakable.
Yunxiu let out a cold laugh, her smile laced with disbelief and deep mockery.
The concubines who had old grievances with her paled at the sight, recalling how Noble Consort Yi’s sharp tongue had once left them speechless. They exchanged uneasy glances, not daring to utter another word.
Ruizhu had already rushed out of Cining Palace to fetch the Imperial Physicians. After her icy laughter, Yunxiu spared no face for Consort Hui. "Care? Who are you trying to fool? What a fine mother you are. Adding a concubine to upset her is one thing, but didn’t you see the Eldest Princess Consort bleeding? If the Emperor’s grandchild is harmed, can you bear the consequences?"
She frowned further. "She’s nearly nine months pregnant—this is no time for negligence. It seems she’s going into labor. The urgent matter now is preparing the birthing chamber and finding wet nurses and midwives. I implore the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Wen to make a swift decision."
The Eldest Princess Consort sat below Consort Hui, diagonally behind Yunxiu, clutching her belly. The low table obscured the view, and unless one looked closely, no one would notice the blood staining her pale violet court robes.
Her words sent a shock through the room.
Consort Hui’s face turned ashen, then flushed with anger. Even if she wanted to retaliate against Yunxiu’s words or salvage her trampled dignity, she had no time to spare.
Though she had grown increasingly displeased with her daughter-in-law, she never meant to harm the unborn child.
For a moment, she blamed the Eldest Princess Consort—how could she be so frail as to dismiss her discomfort as mere loss of appetite? And why did she start bleeding just as Consort Hui proposed taking a concubine for Yinti? Was this deliberate, an attempt to shame her?
Her flood of resentment and accusations halted abruptly when she glanced down at her daughter-in-law’s abdomen.
"Fetch the Imperial Physicians—now!" Blood, unstoppable blood. Consort Hui’s voice trembled. "Fetch them now!"
Noble Consort Wen sat on the same side as Consort Hui, separated by a gap. Without Yunxiu’s warning, she would never have noticed.
Hearing this, Noble Consort Wen rose at once, her expression grave. "Consort Hui, you’ve been careless—and so have I."
Before she could finish, the cries of Yinti’s eldest daughter, Guoguo, pierced the air. Noble Consort Wen frowned and immediately instructed the wet nurses, "Take the Eldest Princess to the side hall. Warm some milk cakes to calm her. Get her to sleep quickly—such a young child shouldn’t be frightened."
It then occurred to her that at this hour, the Emperor would likely arrive with the princes to pay their respects. She turned to the palace maids. "Hurry and inform the Emperor and the Eldest Prince. Go, now!"
Under Noble Consort Wen’s composed orders, the chaos momentarily subsided.
The Eldest Princess Consort’s lips were pale, her sallow face now ghostly white. Beads of cold sweat dotted her forehead, her features twisted in pain.
Her eyes reddened, and she parted her lips weakly, instinctively seeking Yunxiu’s gaze. Her eyes brimmed with gratitude and desperation. "Noble Consort… save my child," she managed between labored breaths, tears streaming down her face.
She hadn’t expected to reach this point—to be unable to endure any longer.
"The midwives and wet nurses… they’ve long been prepared, waiting at the prince’s residence," she gasped, mustering the last of her strength. "They’re all people I trust."
Yunxiu closed her eyes briefly and gave a slight nod. "Nanny Dong, go and fetch them yourself."
She then stepped forward and whispered something to Noble Consort Wen, who considered it briefly before addressing the Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty, Yongshou Palace is nearby. Perhaps we could prepare a side hall there as the birthing chamber?"
The main hall buzzed with noise. The Empress Dowager, too worried to remain seated, repeatedly asked why the Imperial Physicians hadn’t arrived. When Noble Consort Wen posed the question, she sighed. "There’s no better solution. Let it be as you suggest."
"Yongshou Palace?" Consort Hui’s heart clenched, and she immediately interjected, "What about my Yanxi Palace—"
Just then, Sumalagu strode into the hall with a stern expression, cutting Consort Hui off mid-sentence.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Empress Dowager has decreed that a woman in labor should not be moved. Prepare a side hall here in Cining Palace for the Eldest Princess Consort."
The Empress Dowager knew this was the best course of action, yet it still felt improper. A side hall in Cining Palace—wasn’t that against protocol?
Then again, was Noble Consort Wen’s Yongshou Palace any more appropriate?
Before the Empress Dowager could respond, Consort Hui’s eyes reddened, her earlier panic and anger forgotten. All she could think of was Cining Palace.
Barely containing her joy, she said, "This humble consort thanks the Grand Empress Dowager for her kindness on behalf of Yunxin!"
If her precious grandchild were born in Cining Palace, bearing the title of Imperial Eldest Grandson, what a boon it would be for Yinti!
With this thought, some of her resentment toward Lady Irgen Gioro faded.
Sumalagu glanced at her, gave a slight nod, and then returned to the Grand Empress Dowager’s quarters. Only those familiar with her would detect the hidden fury in her demeanor.
When she reported back, she lifted the bed curtain and whispered into the Grand Empress Dowager’s ear as the latter rested with closed eyes.
"Consort Hui has gone too far. As for Yinti, he must learn the hard way to cherish what he has." The Grand Empress Dowager fingered her prayer beads, murmuring "Amitabha Buddha," her aged eyes heavy with distant thoughts.
"I pray the Buddha protects Yinti’s consort," she murmured. "I won’t allow this to continue."
The Eldest Prince had been in a foul mood lately, unwilling to even inquire about the Emperor’s edicts, let alone pick fights with the Crown Prince in private.
In truth, he had regretted moving out of the main courtyard the very first day.
Without his consort, he could neither eat nor sleep well. When Lady Guan and Lady Wu tried to flirt, he placed them under house arrest. Suppressing the urge to return to her, Yinti stubbornly confined himself to his study, vowing to make Lady Irgen Gioro admit her mistake.
His pride lay in tatters. Why couldn’t he measure up to Yinreng? Why couldn’t he contend for the throne?
Yet a voice in his heart whispered that his consort was right—it simply couldn’t be done.
He lay awake all night, staring until dawn’s first light made his eyes sting.
He knew his consort meant well. But his mother hoped for it, his uncles hoped for it—he was already in too deep.
The next day, the Eldest Prince waited eagerly for someone from the main courtyard to come, thinking that if his consort gave him the slightest opening, he would seize it.
But no one came. Nor on the third day, or the fourth.
Yinti grew furious again.
His consort didn’t care about him.
Days passed, and the Eldest Prince, who had initially acted out of spite, found himself adrift.
He stood at the threshold of his study, his feet pointed toward the main courtyard, yet he lacked the courage to take a step forward. It was as though doing so would shatter everything he had clung to since childhood. He couldn’t bring himself to admit—nor did he want to—that contending for the throne was nothing but a foolish dream.
He knew his consort wanted him to see the truth of it.
For several sleepless nights, Yinti tossed and turned, consumed by thoughts of his imperial father's attitude, his mother's expectations, Yinreng's shortcomings, his own chances of success, and all manner of other distractions.
At court, his mind wandered frequently; his greetings were absent-minded. Yinti vaguely recalled Consort Hui mentioning some young lady—was it to arrange a marriage for his cousin? He absentmindedly acknowledged with an "oh," then drifted back to thoughts of his own wife.
He hadn’t seen her in days.
Today was no different. Though it was a minor festival, with everyone wearing smiles, Yinti’s heart was shrouded in gloom, his sorrows with no outlet.
After court, he mechanically followed Kangxi to Cining Palace to pay respects.
The Crown Prince shot Yinti a suspicious glance and tentatively called out, "Eldest Brother?"
Yinti stared blankly at him, silent.
That look seemed to carry a thousand unspoken words, yet not a trace of defiance or resentment. The Crown Prince felt goosebumps rise—had the Eldest Prince lost his mind?
Suppressing his discomfort, the Crown Prince probed further, "Has Eldest Brother been occupied with Ministry of War affairs lately?"
He had heard Noble Consort Yi and Nanny Dong remark that Yinti and his wife, Lady Irgen Gioro, had been visiting Yanxi Palace at completely different times.
Could there be trouble between them?
The thought pleased him. With the treasure bestowed by the Emperor, his own bond with Jingchu had grown by leaps and bounds.
Yinti remained oblivious to the Crown Prince’s rare curiosity and the faint smugness in his gaze.
Another sleepless night had left his mind in a daze. When questioned, he responded woodenly, "Not busy. Busy deciphering His Majesty’s intentions."
"..." The Crown Prince’s suspicion darkened into a scowl. He forced a laugh. "Eldest Brother has quite the pastime."
Yinti blinked at him in confusion. What pastime?
Just then, a group of eunuchs rounded the palace corridor, panting heavily. Spotting the imperial entourage, they stumbled forward as if grasping for salvation, dropping to their knees. "This humble servant greets His Majesty, greets the Crown Prince, greets the Eldest Prince, the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince—"
Kangxi’s brow furrowed. Liang Jiugong quickly scolded them, "Enough! What’s the emergency? Speak plainly!"
"The Eldest Princess Consort has suddenly begun bleeding! The Imperial Physicians took her pulse—they say she may face a difficult birth!"
The shrill, panicked voice pierced Yinti’s ears.
The princes gasped, turning as one toward Yinti. Their eldest brother trembled violently, his eyes clearing abruptly before flooding with red veins.
He lunged forward, voice breaking as he demanded, "Who is facing a difficult birth?!"
He nearly seized the eunuch by the collar.
His glare was terrifying; the eunuch nearly wet himself. Kangxi struck the palanquin and called sternly, "Yinti!"
Another, braver eunuch stammered out the details: "Consort Hui mentioned that the Eldest Prince had taken a liking to a potential secondary consort. Shortly after, the Eldest Princess Consort began bleeding... Noble Consort Yi noticed first and summoned the Imperial Physicians without delay."
The princes’ expressions shifted from shock and pity to outright condemnation.
The Crown Prince fell silent. If he recalled correctly, the Eldest Princess Consort was over eight months pregnant—a time of heightened sensitivity. And Yinti was already thinking of taking a concubine?
On the palanquin, the Emperor’s face darkened. He closed his eyes, swallowing back his fury.
Seeing Yinti’s panic-stricken face, his eyes red as if on the verge of tears, Kangxi exhaled quietly, his anger dissolving into resignation. "Don’t just stand there. Go to your wife."
